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If you’re looking for ways to keep some more bucks in your bank account, there are some B.C. tax credits you could be eligible for ahead of the next tax season.
The B.C. government has a complete list of basic personal income tax credits that can reduce the amount of the total income tax you’ll owe.
Tax season is obviously still a ways away, but planning ahead of time could mean that you don’t have to worry about making mistakes or crunch time decisions on TurboTax, or however you file your taxes.
B.C. warns that if the total of the credits is more than you owe, you won’t get a refund of the difference.
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Basic B.C. tax credits
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If you earn between $0 and $49,279, your tax rate is 5.06 per cent. For average income earners making between $49,279.01 and $98,560, the tax rate is 7.70 per cent. The BC Ministry of Finance lists all of the tax brackets and rates for the 2025 tax year on its website. The 2025 basic personal amount in B.C. is $12,932.
If you’re a B.C. caregiver, you’re eligible for a base amount of $5,659, but that credit is reduced if you have a dependent whose 2025 income exceeds $19,151.
If you’re a search and rescue or firefighter volunteer, you can also claim a base amount of $3,000.
The B.C. government lists all of the basic personal income tax credits for the 2025 tax year.
B.C. also has a tax reduction credit for folks earning below a certain amount. The net income threshold is $25,020, and the maximum net income for the tax reduction credit is $40,807, with a base amount of $562.
If you’re eligible, the credits mean you’ll get more money in income each week, but you’ll get a smaller tax refund when tax season rolls around.
Other B.C. tax credits
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Another credit you’ll likely be eligible for when the next tax year rolls around is the renter’s tax credit. Income thresholds have been increased for the credit in the last two years, so it remains to be seen how the credit will change ahead of the next tax season.
For the 2024 tax year, the credit allowed low and middle-income renters to gain a maximum of $400 if they made $63,000 or less. Folks making between $63,000 and $83,000 were eligible for a reduced amount.
B.C. also still offers a family benefit, which experienced some changes in July.
While not a tax credit, you should also check out BC Unclaimed to see if there is any forgotten, left-behind money you might be owed.